
Community identification
Firefly
Lampyridae
- Order & Family
- Order: Coleoptera, Family: Lampyridae
- Size
- 5 to 25 mm (0.2 to 1.0 inch)
Natural Habitat
Moist, humid environments such as forests, meadows, marshes, and suburban gardens.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae are predatory, eating snails and worms; adults may eat nectar, pollen, or nothing at all.
Behavior Patterns
Mainly nocturnal, they use bioluminescent lights to communicate for mating and to signal predators.
Risks & Benefits
Harmless to humans; they provide biological pest control and serve as indicators of environmental health.